Paramedical professionals ratify contract

Paramedical professionals have voted 92 per cent in favour of the tentative contract reached this summer between the Paramedical Professional Bargaining Association (PPBA) and the Health Employers' Association of BC (HEABC).

"Clearly, paramedical professionals recognized that this was the best contract possible given the current political climate," says Ron Ohmart, chief negotiator for the PPBA.

"Unfortunately, the government refused to address a number of critical issues during this round of negotiations - including professional shortages, workload and low staff morale - and our members expect to see real progress on these issues when we go back to the bargaining table in 2006."

Ohmart notes that voter turnout was extremely low compared to previous years, reflecting a general disillusionment with the Liberal government's approach to health care bargaining.

The PPBA represents approximately 13,000 paramedical professionals represented by the Health Sciences Association of BC (HSA), BC Government and Service Employees' Union (BCGEU), Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), Professional Employees' Association (PEA), and the Hospital Employees' Union (HEU).